Wolf Heat: SIGHTINGS
#12 of Wolf Heat
Wow. I'm sorry but I've totally forgotten about Luna back in the pine forest. I think more then a few of you wonder about what happened with the beginning of this series. Terra, Silvia, Pomi, Astri, Luna and the rest. Don't worry we'll meet them now.
The following chapters will cover most of what have happened this far during the two last chapters of Ventus absence that hasn't already been shown. Sorry again for the unprofessional organization and enjoy the chapter.
SIGHTINGS
In the pine forest a light rain swept over the pack of wolves. A young female wolf with light brown and white speckled fur named Astri was strolling though the rain, enjoying the cool drops of water running through her fur.
The pack had settled down somewhat since the mating season, and Astri that was still a year too young to experience heat was full of energy.
She was looking for someone to play with her, as she often did. Her big sister Luna had played with her a lot with her the past days, but she was nowhere to be found.
Astri sigh, she wasn't very patient and was easily bored. That could become her undoing in a hunt, that's what one of her older brothers had said before leaving the pack. She had quite a few brothers and sister, though most of them had left the pack.
Astri saw Pomi; the chubby red and brown beta wolf lying slumbering leaned against a rock. She ran over to him greeting him with a happy bark. Pomi looked up with sleepy eyes at the young wolf heading towards him.
'Astri *yawn* Hello there.' He said smiling his warm smile. Astri always got happy seeing that smile, she thought of him sort of like the uncle of the pack, as did most others.
'Hi Pomi, do you want to play with me?' She asked hopefully.
Pomi chuckled.
'I'm sorry Astri, but I'm afraid I can't keep up with you youngsters.'
Astri frowned.
'Don't try that one. You're not that old....You're just lazy aren't you?!' She exclaimed with a fake accusing voice.
'Perhaps I am.' Pomi chuckled.
Astri giggled as the big wolf turned over and tried to snore loudly. She decided to leave Pomi to his sleep.
'Ok, fine. Bye sleepy-head.' She said and ran off. Pomi smiled and drifted back into slumber.
Later the light rain had stopped. Astri kept walking mindlessly until she reached the very edge of their territory. There she got cautious; she might be well known in the pack as a daydreamer but she was a wolf none the less.
And if she hadn't been alert she would most defiantly have missed the small movement between some trees not far from her.
Astri mind was speeding with various options. She was sure she had seen something, no doubt. Should she tell another wolf in the pack or go investigate it herself? In the end her curiosity got the better of her and she started to walk stealthily in a circle pattern that would put her somewhere behind the spot where she had seen the movement.
Maybe it was a deer. She thought. It had been along time since the pack got a hold of any bigger prey. Aviditas, the younger brother of Pomi, had said at one point or another that soon enough the entire pack would be living of rabbits.
Astri had never really liked Aviditas. Unlike his brother he was selfish and bad-tempered. And she knew her sister Luna didn't like him either. Astri didn't know why, she disliked him to but not as much as Luna had expressed one night not too long ago. Maybe he had done something mean to her in the past.
Reaching her destination she heard a crack and a voice cursing quietly. Looking up between some branches she saw a young male wolf trying to get through the thick branches of a pine tree, breaking some smaller ones of in the process.
He looked to be about Astris age, and he was only slightly bigger then her. His fur was grey, turning white as it reached the centre of his belly looking almost like a white sphere on his otherwise grey body.
'Stupid branches. Why do all these pine trees have to be so close together?!' The young wolf barked in anger as he tried to tangle himself out of the mess he had gotten himself into.
Astri was dumbstruck. It was an outside wolf entering their territory. Her first reaction should have been to call for the others; it should have been to treat the wolf as a threat. But of some rezone Astri didn't do that. Maybe it was because he looked so funny stuck in the branches, maybe it was because he was too young to alone pose a threat. Or maybe it was because somewhere in the back of her head she thought he was kind of cute.
Instead of calling for the pack she made her way towards him. Casually walking as if she had no specific business.
The young wolf looked up as he heard her coming. Looking first surprised, he then just looked at her in a defensive questioning way. Astri pretending to be overly surprised to se him.
'Hi, didn't see you there. What are you doing?' She asked in a playful tone.
The wolf growled annoyed.
'Shut up! Go call your pack. I'll be gone before they get here anyway,' He said and continued struggling.
Astri walked closer, sitting down just out of his reach.
'Naa, I'm not going to call the pack.' She said.
The wolf momentarily stopped struggling.
'Huh, why not?' He said as he tried to shake himself loose.
Astri was quiet for a moment, not sure why herself. Then she reached a conclusion that made her blush slightly.
Overcoming her shyness for what she was about to do; she reached out and touched his cheek gently with her wet nose, making him stop his efforts and look at her with surprise.
'Because I think I like you.' She whispered in his ear before quickly withdrawing her head, blushing violently under her fur.
The wolf looked at her stunned, a pink blush growing under his fur as well. Then snapping out of it he made another effort trying to get out from between the branches.
Astri too snapped back to reality as he renewed his efforts. Quickly walking over to him she bite on to the big branch in front of the wolf, and together they managed to bend it far enough for him to slip out.
As Astri let go of the branch it snapped back with a loud whoosh, making pine needles fall from the great tree.
The wolf hesitated a moment then he turned to Astri.
'Hey, um...Thanks.' He said avoiding looking her directly in her eyes.
'I-it's ok...How did you get stuck between those two branches anyway?' She asked also looking more towards the ground then at him.
He was quiet for a while.
'...I jumped.' He admitted.
Astri listened as he explained that he had made a leap and landed between the branches. Astri though it was weird for a wolf to be jumping around, and asked him why he did that.
'Heck, I'm a great jumper. I don't jump around all the time, but some times you want to take a big leap.' He said turning to leave.
'Wait! What's your name?' Astri asked.
'Orbis. You?' He asked looking back at her.
'Astri.' She said and tried to walk towards him.
Orbis smiled a self secure smile with just the right hint of mischief.
'See you Astri' He said. Then he quickly leaped away before she had come more then a few feet closer.
Astri sigh. She didn't want him to leave so soon. Reluctantly she started walking back to the pack.
***
Terra was worried; he had gathered the pack to discuss what had happened in the latest couple of days. Terra had gone through many things in his life, and he knew something was going on. He felt it in his fur; it was going to be bad.
Pomi, the beta and Terra's best friend was at his right side, seemingly slumbering unaware of his surroundings. Terra knew better. Everyone underestimated the chubby wolf that always had a smile but was always found resting. But he was a warrior. That was something most of the pack would not believe. Terra knew though; Pomi was the one wolf he knew that would match Terra in combat.
On his left were his mate and the alpha female of the pack, Silvia. Her soft, cream brown fur seemed to shine in the light of the setting sun.
Her support meant so much for him, and he was sure she would prove herself in what would come.
The rest of the pack was there as well. His two remaining daughters; Luna and Astri was lying a little to the side. Other wolves sitting quietly talking to each other.
Terra barked softly to get attention. The wolves surrounding him turned their gazes towards him. Pomi opened his eyes and looked out over the pack, and then he turned towards Terra.
'I'd like to tell you what has happened. Though I know none of you are neither blind nor deaf... There have been sightings.' Terra said in a grave voice.
He began walking slowly among the wolves as he spoke.
'...Sightings; of other wolves. Outsiders. They hide best they can and never come more then a couple at the time.'
The sun setting behind him made his shadow grow bigger, so at a moment when he stopped the entire pack rested in his shadow.
'These wolves are no doubt scout troops. Parts of a bigger pack, and a danger to us all.' He said as he looked out over his pack.
At his words his youngest daughter Astri flinched. Terra did not know if it was due to fear for the foreign threat, or something else. He made a note of her behaviour.
'We can only assume that they are out after our territory. Our food, our water. And that they will kill to get it.' His words got angry mumbles from a couple of wolves.
'That's why we must prepare for the inevitable. I want patrols on lookout. All contact or sightings of outside wolves shall be reported to alpha or beta. If they engage you consider them an enemy and fend them off.' Terra said, almost shouting.
Silvia, who had been quiet till then, turned to Terra.
'And if they request a truce?' She asked. Her status being the same as Terra, she did not possess his experience.
Terra paused.
'Then bring them to us.' He said.
Pomi got up into sitting position.
'Is there any objections?' He asked. Looking out over the pack he waited patiently to make sure that there was in fact none. He noticed that a few of the wolves looked unease. But that was almost to expect.
'Good. The time is getting late. Let us decide upon patrols and then tend to our needs.' He said, ending the meeting. Patrols would be made in a wink as the wolves would discuss that amongst them self.
***
Astri dashed past a couple of young pine tress, running towards the edge of their territory. She had barely been able to contain herself on the meeting. Orbis must have been scouting for an outside pack, probably hostile. That worried Astri, but she was even more worried about what might happen to Orbis if he was caught. She had to warn him!
She ran to where she had met him a couple of days ago. She had no idea how to find him, but she looked around and quietly barked his name.
'Orbis...Orbis...'
Then just as she thought she would risk yelling for him, something bites onto her tail making her spin around with a surprised yelp.
Behind her Orbis was smiling letting go of her tail as she faced him.
'Don't shout Astri. I'm right here.' He said smirking.
Astri recovered from the surprise and sigh with relief.
'I'm so glad your ok...There is something you need to know...And something I need to ask you...' She said hesitating between words.
Orbis strolled over to a comfy spot of grass and lay down, looking up at her with a serious if yet nonchalant look.
'Shoot.'
Astri sat down in front of him.
'Ok...You are not here alone are you? There is a pack sending scouts, and you're one of them.' She said, sounding worried as she talked quickly.
Orbis just looked at her.
'Yeh'
Astri felt a sting of shock, even though she had known the answer.
'You must get out of here. If anyone in my pack finds you here you'll get killed!' She said almost tripping over her words in panic.
Orbis was quiet for a while.
'Naa, that won't happen. Unless you tell them. You won't, right?' He said giving her a questioning look.
Astri almost panicked. That didn't mean he was safe!
'No you don't understand! They already know about your pack, there will be patrols and...' She cried out, trying to get him to understand how serious this was.
Orbis interrupted her before she could continue.
'.You won't tell them, right?' He said. A hint of anger sneaking into his questioning tone.
Astri sigh, her ears low to the sides.
'...No...' She said slowly, barely more then a whisper.
Orbis got up and walked over to her.
'Good.' He said happily and licked her muzzle making her blush under her fur.
Orbis was about to turn and leave, when Astri stopped him.
'Wait!'
Orbis turned to her.
'Now what?' He asked.
Astri nudged him in the sides.
'Let's play!' She said hopefully.
Orbis looked at her as if she was crazy.
Play? Here? ... Now?'
Astri smiled.
'Sure.'
Orbis laughed quietly before smirking towards her.
'You're on!'
Then the two one-year old wolves started playing a game of tag, eventually becoming a wrestling match. Orbis dominated Astri in both of the games, and soon enough he had her pinned down under him.
Smirking down at her he bites her ear playfully enjoying having her pinned down. A quick play jab towards his muzzle followed by a submissive whimper reminded him to get the game back into action. Jumping of her they started over.
They parted several hours later but not before Astri had gotten him to promise to meet her and play with her again. Astri was to call for him when it was safe.
***
Orbis returned to his pack. They were hiding in a secluded part of the forest, not far from Astris pack and their territory. He was met by Coda; an all black wolf with a tail that got bushy towards the end.
'Orbis! What have you been doing all this time!?' He barked towards the young wolf.
Orbis looked at him self secured.
'Never mind that. I got a piece of information that I think you'll want to hear.' He said smirking as the last rays of the sun set behind the horizon.
To be continued...
Well there we go. Astri is so cute. Orbis is a bit of a question mark. First of all what kind of a name is Orbis? Time again to tell you the uninspired names meaning. As usual it's Latin.
Orbis: circle; territory/region; sphere
Coda: tail (animal); extreme part/tail of anything; penis
Now Orbis says 'shoot' to tell Astri to go on. But normally I wouldn't use such a word in this series. Because it origins from the action to fire a gun, and in a world without humans how would a non-anthro wolf know such words. Just odd things I think about while writing.
Though here I used it anyway because it suited his personality.
Well I hope you enjoyed the chapter, the next one will follow up on this one, and so we'll still be a bit back in time. Though we should catch up with the present sometime during the next chapter.
Please rate and leave a review. No need for anything fancy, just tell me what you think.
Live well.